The World Geospatial Industry Council (WGIC) implements its mission and strategic goals through its committees, aligning with the evolving needs of the member companies. Many members articulated the need for a platform to address the pressing issues around geospatial data, the bedrock of all geospatial businesses. Responding to these member needs, WGIC announced the formation of its Data Committee in 2024. The committee, while serving as a collaborative platform to promote the responsible use and exchange of geospatial data, is actively pursuing industry issues around data procurement cycles, data interoperability, data management, and data reusability within the industry.
The Data Committee, the newest among WGIC committees, is chaired by John Renard of Airedale Advisory during 2025 and has representation from WGIC member companies across the data value chain. Throughout the year, Committee saw proactive engagement of members – Dr Ramesh Kajrolkar and Arjen Crince (AI-Infrasolutions), Shelby Coder (Fugro), Ryan Burley (GeoSolutions USA), Adina Gillespie (Hexagon Geosystems), Steven Sawdon (IIC Technologies), Kathleen Martin (MBS), John Bowers (MDA Space), Dan Rushton (Picterra), Jim Van Rens (RIEGL International), Willy Govender (Vastpoint), Philip Chisholm (TomTom), Paul DiGiacobbe (TopoDOT), Chantal Jorawsky (Trimble) and Brian Nicholls (Woolpert).
Data Dialogues
The Committee initiated strategic dialogues in 2025 on data frameworks, procurement models, and the creation of data value. In Q2 2025, the Committee launched a podcast series to spotlight key geospatial data topics. It set up a dedicated working group to lead the development and execution of this podcast series and to ensure continuous engagement and knowledge sharing across the community.
The Committee successfully produced its first episode, “Geospatial Landscape Changed From ‘Can I Get Data?’ To ‘What Data Should I Use?’” The episode explored the evolution of geospatial data—from paper maps to native digital platforms. It discussed challenges in data accessibility, licensing, and ownership, as well as the rise of open data initiatives like Overture Maps, and the growing role of AI in making sense of vast data volumes. This episode offered practical insights into navigating today’s data-driven geospatial landscape.
Soon after the successful production and publication of the first episode, the Committee began production of its second episode, focused on “The Vital Role of the USGS 3DEP Program in the Geospatial Industry.” Furthermore, the Committee agreed to focus its upcoming efforts on two interrelated themes – Data Sovereigntyand Data Authenticity. The former will explore the legal, policy, and regional dimensions of data ownership, storage, and access, while the latter theme will examine how to ensure data trustworthiness in the face of challenges such as fake imagery and AI-generated distortions.
Data to Decisions Panel Discussion
The Committee convened a high-impact session titled “Data to Decisions” at Intergeo 2025. John Renard moderated the panel discussion that featured experts from RIEGL, Woolpert, DATADEV, PlanBlue, Bluesky, and Esri. Over 100 participantsjoined the exploration of how geospatial data transforms decision-making across industries.
The thought-provoking discussion highlighted rapid advances in data production, from terrestrial and mobile to aerial and satellite-based systems, enabling greater scalability and precision as well as the growing role of AI-driven information extraction and automation in transforming raw data into actionable intelligence. Further, the panel unveiled the shared vision of WGIC members – turning data into trusted, actionable insights as key to realizing the full potential of the geospatial technology.
2026 Focus Areas
Building on its early achievements, the Data Committee will expand its activities in 2026 through three core areas of action:
Global Data Policy and Governance Alignment
- Continue engagement with international bodies and governments to advocate for harmonized, transparent, and ethical data practices.
- Address evolving policy landscapes, procurement frameworks, and data-sharing mechanisms to ensure effective data access and data management.
Knowledge Sharing and Community Engagement
- Expand the podcast series and related knowledge initiatives to foster greater public awareness of the role of data in shaping the future.
- Support cross-sector collaborations through case studies, events, and working sessions.
The Data Committee will continue to serve as a thought leadership hub for the global geospatial community, driving alignment between data policy, innovation, and value creation. The Committee’s work will contribute directly to WGIC’s vision of unlocking the full potential of geospatial data as a foundation for sustainable growth and digital transformation.
